Jones Knob & Whiterock Mountain (11-19-13)

Jones Knob and Whiterock Mountain are a pair of peaks that, until only a few weeks before this hike, had somehow managed to stay below my hiking radar despite their relative closeness to my home. Located just to the west of Highlands, these two peaks lie along a rather tame stretch of the venerable Bartram Trail, one of North Carolina's premier long distance trails. Though rather middling in height for these parts (both sit well beneath 5,000') what sets this pair apart is what makes many of the peaks in this area unique, they're plutons...mountains comprised of erosion resistant rock sporting massive open cliff faces. Add to this fact that its a relatively easy 5-mile round trip hike to visit both and you have yourself a truly spectacular place to go for a day hike.

Though you can reach the peaks from either direction on the Bartram Trail, the most popular starting point is at Jones Gap which is where I'd begin. Despite my ignorance of these peaks they do tend to be popular hiking destinations so in the summer they can be quite busy. However, my visit was on a sub-freezing morning in mid-November so, to my delight, I had the peaks completely to myself. Sometimes such highly touted hikes tend to disappoint...on this day that would not be the case...

Jones Knob & Whiterock Mountain, Macon County (11-19-13)

The Forest Service road up to Jones Gap was narrow and quite windy but in decent shape. The day I went up it would have been passable in pretty much any vehicle but no doubt that could change after wet weather...

Bartram Trailhead - Jones Gap

Temps below freezing and a weekday morning...it was no surprise to be the only one at the trailhead...

Bartram Trailhead - Jones Gap

Bartram Trail - Jones Gap Trailhead (~4,370')...

Bartram Trailhead - Jones Gap

Heading north from the parking lot, the trail immediately passes an iron gate that discourages those who would inevitably try to drive the trail to Jones Knob...

Bartram Trail

Between the parking lot and the spur trail to Jones Knob the trail follows a wide clearing that no doubt was a logging road at one point in the past...

Bartram Trail

A few minutes in the path passes through a small field before descending to the shallow gap beneath Jones Knob...

Bartram Trail

It was a frosty morning...

Bartram Trail

After all of five minutes on the trail I reached the spur trail to Jones Knob. Here, the Bartram Trail makes a right turn which I'd be following shortly to Whiterock Mountain...

Bartram Trail-Jones Knob Spur Junction

Many times summit spur trails can be hard to spot in the southern mountains...not so along this stretch of the Bartram Trail...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

The path pretty much makes a bee-line for the Jones Knob summit...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

After a short climb just vigorous enough to warm me up I reached the open southwestern slopes of Jones Knob...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

The panorama from the lower overlook on Jones Knob (though at the time I didn't know there was an 'upper overlook')...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

Another shot from the lower overlook on Jones Knob...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

Looking down towards the community of Otto which sits snugly in the Little Tennessee River valley, tucked up against the high wall of the Nantahala Range...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

The open rock face isn't the top of Jones Knob so I figured while I was up here I might as well tag the top...

Jones Knob Spur Trail

It was still a few minutes walk to the summit of Jones Knob from the overlook...

Jones Knob summit - 4,622'

The unremarkable summit...

Jones Knob summit - 4,622'

Gnarled oaks draped in moss were scattered all over the summit...

Jones Knob summit - 4,622'

Moss covered rocks demanded I pay attention to my steps...

Reindeer Lichen

A close look at the tiny skeletal branches of Reindeer Lichen, common even this far south on high, open rocky slopes...

Jones Knob summit - 4,622'

Where there is soil atop Jones Knob, its likely pretty thin meaning that the vegetation is mostly limited to laurels and rhododendron with a smattering of stunted pines and oaks thrown in for good measure...

Jones Knob - 4,622'

After wandering the summit for a couple minutes I noticed that a path led over to the north side to yet another open outcrop. This is the stunning panorama that greeted me...my next objective, Whiterock Mountain, is the one with the open cliffs to the right...

Retracing my steps down Jones Knob it wasn't long before I was back on the Bartram Trail...

Bartram Trail

This huge rock slab seemed to be sliding out from beneath the forest...

Bartram Trail

A giant old stump hints at what a magnificent forest this must have been prior to the arrival of the saw...

Bartram Trail

As the Bartram winds its way around the east side of Jones Knob it takes turns passing through tunnels of rhododendron and open woodland...

Bartram Trail

The bare winter canopy allowed for some nice views to the north and east as I made my way through the woods around Jones Knob...

Bartram Trail

As the trail drops off the north slopes of Jones Knob it passes through a very extensive and dark thicket of rhododendron...after a chilly five or ten minutes I was quite happy when I finally broke back into the light...

Bartram Trail

It doesn't pay to be the largest tree around on these high ridges...

Bartram Trail

A trail panorama as I approach Whiterock Gap...

Bartram Trail

Just before making the final drop into the gap a break in the trees permitted me a glimpse of Whiterock Mountain ahead...

Bartram Trail

Dropping into Whiterock Gap...

Bartram Trail - Whiterock Gap

Whiterock Gap, elevation 4,150', a bit under 3/4 of a mile from Whiterock Mountain...

Bartram Trail

A maze of crooked, bare oak branches overhead...

Bartram Trail

A leafy shish-kabob...its always fun to see how thick these can get on a winter hike...

Bartram Trail

The Bartram certainly doesn't take the most direct route to the top of Whiterock, wrapping almost completely around it before gaining the top...

Bartram Trail

A thick understory of laurel and rhododendron topped by an oak canopy...a typical scene along this hike...

Bartram Trail-Whiterock Mountain Spur Junction

After a gradual 3/4 mile climb from Whiteoak Gap I reached the spur trail to the summit of Whiterock Mountain...

Whiterock Mountain Spur Trail

The climb to the summit was blinding as much of the way I was walking directly into the sun...

Whiterock Mountain Spur Trail

Not far from the summit of Whiterock the trail climbs across this open slab. Still frozen runoff made for a tricky climb in spots...

Whiterock Mountain Spur Trail

The open slab crossed by the trail on the approach to the summit offers some nice, teasing views back to the east towards Highlands...

Whiterock Mountain Summit - 4,494'

It's a mess but this is it...the summit of Whiterock Mountain, 4,494'...

Whiterock Mountain Summit - 4,494'

Some open ledges on the north side of the summit looked like they may offer a view but, aside from a glimpse of Jones Knob through the trees there wasn't much to see...however, the big cliffs still awaited me...

Whiterock Mountain Spur Trail

Like Jones Knob, the nicest clifftop viewpoint on Whiterock is located a short distance below the summit...